Every year, especially around when it comes time for annual card renewal, I’d do a quick analysis to see if the card is worth keeping. For the last few years, I’d have been renewing the Hilton Aspire Card annually. It has the highest annual fee, but it made sense given my travel patterns.
The most valuable benefit to me are:
- The annual “weekend” night certificate: While “valuation” varies (depending on if it’s at a aspirational property), I tend value it a a more realistic rate of what I would normally pay out of pocket. I considered this a “good” benefit.
- The annual $250 resort credit: The credit at only be used at one of the designated “resorts” (in the states, most falls into Florida/Vegas). While this can more than make up for the card benefit if one can make it work, it’s higher effort. I considered this benefit to be a “hit or miss”.
- The Priority Pass membership + 2 guests: this is my favorite benefits given my travel patterns. This is one of my favorite benefits of the card, being able to experience the lounge with traveling companions.
- Hilton Diamond Status: This is valuable when staying at Hilton properties.
While the other perks are nice, they are not unique to the Aspire card:
- TSA Pre or Global Membership: the benefit is typically covered by a number of cards.
- Airline incidental credit: the airline incidental credit is useful.
Changes announced in October 2023
In October 2023, Amex/Hilton announced some significant changes to the card benefits, along with an $100 increase of the annual fee to $550.
The changes are widely written about in other blogs. I won’t get into the details of the changes, but I’d to highlight the changes:
- Annual “weekend” night certificate remains (no change)
- Annual resort credit benefit is raised to $400 annually at a “resort” hotel: While the value is higher, the benefit is limited. It can already be a challenge to use the $250 “annual” credit, the new change to use it $200 bi-annually is a negative change, at least to me.
- The Priority pass benefit is going away (a huge negative change to me).
- The $250 airline fee credit will be replaced with a $50 quarterly airfare statement credit: While it’s nice that it can be used on any flights, it’s unlikely I have any plans to purchase flights every quarter.
There are some other additions to mention (but are non-starters)
- Cell phone coverage: given that my primary phone carrier does not allow credit card payments (to keep T-Mobile credits), I wouldn’t be able to make use of this benefit.
- Clear Plus Statement credit: unnecessary with existing Global Entry membership.
- National Car Rental: I’m already a National member and an Avis Preferred member. I don’t rent enough to make this benefit worthwhile.
Decision
I decided that this card no longer fit my needs given some key benefit changes. Although I’ve been a long time Amex customer, the changes to this card benefits are negative and significant enough. I can’t justify paying an increased annual fee for benefits that will be much harder to use.
I decided to cancel. At cancellation, I have been offered 10,000 Hilton for a 1k spend, as well as a downgrade to the no-annual fee Hilton card. I declined both options.
In some ways, the old benefits were really too good to be true. I figured it was a matter of time before there were going to be changes. I would have likely continued to keep the card if it weren’t for these changes that caused me to re-evaluate. In some strange ways, I’m glad Amex finally made that decision for me.
Are you up for Aspire renewal? Are you keeping this card or making a change, or still evaluating?
For the airline credit, why don’t you buy a Southwest flight for $50 each quarter and then cancel it for a credit that never expires?
As for T-mobile, you can have a debit card as your autopayment, but you can still make “one-time” payments with a credit card equal to or greater than your bill amount. T-mobile only requires the auto payment be linked to a debit, not that the actual full payment be made by debit.
Thanks for the feedback/suggestions. I’ve never bought flight tickets just to cancel for a credit — it’s a hassle too much hassle for a airline I don’t fly on. It’s a negative change because it’s a lot easier to use the existing airline credit. As of the phone benefit, I never needed the phone coverage (which is why it’s negligible in terms of added benefits). I haven’t tried making the one time payment with the credit card since the T-Mobile “announcement (as I already made a “one time payment” before the change). 🙂 However, I have read some recent reports… Read more »
I’m a Hilton Grand Vacations Premiere member. Despite the increase in annual fee, this deal makes a ton of additional benefit for me. The wife and I both have this card. Lots of “free” food and drinks on vacation for us.
Yay! And that’s what makes a card a keeper, when it works to what you need. It’s a very good card, which is why I kept for all these years. And yes, the food benefit that comes with the Hilton gold status is valuable if you stay the Hilton hotels. I’m really glad to hear the benefits still works well for you and your wife. Happy travels!
Do you think a Airline gift card would work for 50.00 credit?
Technically, $50 statement credit every quarter is for a “flight ticket” (any airlines). Somehow I doubt gift cards would work since flight purchases are coded differently…but we also won’t know until reports come in in the new year when the benefit kicks in. I wouldn’t hold my breath on it though.